Little Falls transcript., 1887-06-10
ON THE s ME- ROA D.


Nature does not shed her beauties
alone in those parts 81 our universe
Z where tourists and sight-seers most
frequently visit, the world in some Of
its obscurest places is filled with beau.
ties that have escaped the eyes OF it's
fever. a@
Who would have thought of travel
ing in stage twenty miles from the
nearest railroad station, or footing it
at a necessarily slow pace over the
hills and rocks OF Cheshire county, to
see how aptly nature had done her
work in this particular place? As for
the inhabitants OF the little hamlet
nestled up among the hills, very few
OF them had time to think OF such
matters as feasting their eyes on nat
ural loveliness, or even giving a
thought to their surroundings. Their
only object in life seemed to be to get
up at five, eat the required num-
Der OF meals, attend to the duties Of
the day, and 60 to bed again when
night came. There was very little
variety in the lives of these people,
yet they seemed TO be we'll enough
contented with their lot, except that
now and then some ambitious spirit
would overleap the bounds and make
ajourney out into the world. to see
what people were doing there, and
those who did become so bold, very
rarely returned to the old way of liv-
ing.
One ofthese discontented spirits, who
refused to believe that everything the
world contained was found up here
among the hills Of Cheshire county,
was q young and rather good-looking
girl. It seemed to Janet Gray as ii
this dull, monoGonous, unvarying
routine would never end, and every
day she ionged more and more to
leave it.
1t was on O. bright morning early
in May, that, returning from .an er-
rand. she threw herself down by the
brook, to rest and to think. Her
face WAS flushed with fast walking,
and with her dark hair and eyes show
ing to quite an advantage with her
new gineham dress, Janet presented
quite O. pretty picture to William
Thomas Toy, as he observed her from
ohe corntield some yards away. But
Thomas was man who did not con-
slider g. wish long ere he strived to full
FL it, and WAS soon at her side. She
looked up with a. surprised air when
she heard his; "Good.morning," and
said, "Oh! it is you, is it," then laps
ed again into her thoughtful mood.
He watched her while in silence, be-
ing too we'll accustomed to Janet's
way to disturb her without reason;
but finally he mustered up courage to
make a remark
"Janie, what makes you SO thought
tul this morning?'
"Tom,' she answered after a pause,
II want you to bel p me. lam so con-
fused this morning that can hardly
see my way to do what I am deter
mined to do. I am going away" The
is positively unbearable longer. Some
folks may becontent to drag out their
lives in such place as this, but I am
going where [ can be and do some
thing. Tt does seem to me such pos.
tive nonsence for people to be willing
to live along in o hand-to.mouth sort
OF way upshere among these hills, and
mover do anything Of notein the world
except what every mortal does to
preserve life, namely. cat. drink and
sleep. 1t is like being buried alive!!'
Having delivered herself Of this un-
maidenly speech, Tom sat waiting for
more, but more didn't come. At last
he ventured to say
"Jauie, am sorry you are SO tired
OF all Of us; but if you want to go
over yonder hills and do something
honest and honorable in the world,
you'll 20, and I know better than to
say one word of hinderance."
''Yes, Thomas Troy, that is the
first right down sensible thing ever
heard you say" she answered with
half q smile. "Of course you know
better than to hinder me, fyou could.
will remember you for your kind in
tentions. am not so tired of you,
Thomas; nor any OF the rest OF the
folks. l Idon't want to go out OF your
lives altogether; but it is these lonely.
rocky bills, and this birdcage life that
tires me. Just think, Tom, If Ishould
stay here all the days OF my life, what
record / would have, and when |
die how it would sound to read on my
graye-stone,
Here rests the body OF Janet Gray;
Where she's gone, she's gone to stay.
BY the,way, Tom, what kind OF q
poetess do you think I'd maker"
"Janie," said Tom, your ambitions
are all right. As for poetry, never
try that, whatever you do. 1t isn't
every poor rhymer that wins fame,
nor every aspirant artains glory. 1t
is time and chance with everybody.
The race is not always to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong"
"Look here, Mr.. William Thomas
Toy, am we'll convinced you'd dis
courage me ifyou could; but all the
Scripture, you can quote and all the
arguments you can use won't better
your cause one iota. I do not intend
to make rhyming profession. But
say, Thomas, don't you think I am
rather a fair scribe?" - = 49,, r.
"Why, jamie. said Tom, who would
deny that. fact? wish to goodness I
could write as fair q hand; but these
clumsy laborers' hands of mine were
never meant to hold q pen daintily.
But, jamie, what prompted you to
ask me such "a question? Give us
something more closely related to the
subject. How is it you wish me to
help you? am ready to do all lean. !"
"That I'll tell you. OF course I'll
break this news to Lizzie first; but